Samagaun Village

Samagaun village is a beautiful village that is the resting point for the Manaslu circuit trek and the Manaslu base camp trek. It lies at an altitude of approx. 3800 meters. It is a beautiful place often known for its majestic close views of the mighty Manaslu and surrounding ranges. Samagaun is known for its culture, traditions, and warm, welcoming people. As it lies near the Tibet border and was once a salt trading route, it is highly influenced by the Tibetan culture and traditions, due to which you will see the mani walls, monasteries, small chortens, and the prayer flags fluttering above the sky, which represent the 5 elements of the earth. Blue means sky, green means water, red means fire, white means air, and yellow means earth, which flutters the sky, which comes from the direct touching of the mighty Himalayan ranges.

Surroundings of Samagaun Village

Samagaun's surroundings are covered with the majestic Mount Manaslu ranges in the background. It lies in the high alpine meadows, due to which, from the villages, water streams, waterfalls, rivers, glacier formations, and sometimes snow avalanches can be seen as well while staying in the tea house. Just near the Samagaun, there is a lake named Birendra Lake, which is named after the late king Birendra of Nepal, as it was integrated from him. The lake is formed from the melting glaciers that flow from the Manaslu peak. During the peak seasons like spring and autumn, you can swim here, but during the winter months, the lake is covered with snow, and you can go snow skating. Also, the surroundings of Samagaun feature unobstructed views of the surrounding Himalayan ranges.

How can you get to Samagaun Village from Kathmandu?

To reach Samagaun from the village, you will need to rent a vehicle that does off-roading and has AWD (all-wheel drive) or 4*4 (four-wheel drive) because reaching Samagaun from Kathmandu leads you through the off-roads from Arughat to Jagat. From Jagat also, you will need to trek for ¾ days to reach Samagaun, as it's at a high altitude; acclimatization is the key point before reaching here. You will need to trek through the beautiful lush green forests and villages like Nyak village, Namrung village, Philim, and Deng.

If you don’t want to trek from Jagat and directly want to visit Samagaun, the best option is flying from the Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport to Samagaun, or you can fly from Pokhara to Samagaun as well by doing a private charter, as there are no regular flights. The cost may be higher than renting or using a public vehicle.

Do I need a permit to reach Samagaun village?

Yes, you will need permits to reach Samagaun because the village lies in a restricted area of Nepal in the Manaslu region, and it is also a conservation area, as there are wild animals and bird species that are going to be extinct, due to which it is protected by the boundaries and the army personnel. The permits are used to track the trekkers in case of emergency or emergency evacuations. Also, the permit fees that you pay directly go to the conservation area fund, which is later used for wildlife protection. So you might wonder what the permits are to reach here. You will need two kinds of permits to reach here; they are:

• Restricted area permit (RAP)
• Manaslu Conservation Area Permit (MCAP)

What are the accommodation options in the Samagaun village?

The accommodation options in the Samagaun village are basic in amenities. It is a well-developed village in the Samagaun village, due to which you will see different kinds of houses, from stone and wood-made houses and bamboo-made houses to modern cemented tea houses and lodges as well. The services may not meet the city-level standard, but still, you have all kinds of comfort and luxury during your stay. You will get wifi, electricity, an attached and common washroom, and a hot water shower as well. In some tea houses, they charge for the extra facilities, while some may include them in your stay only. You will have various kinds of food options as well while staying, like Dal Bhat (lentil soup with rice and vegetables), fried rice, pasta, and noodles, momos (Tibetan dumplings), pancakes and eggs for breakfast, hot drinks like tea, coffee, and ginger lemon honey, and many more. The best part of these foods is that they are made of fire and wood, which is tasty and healthier. The cost for the one night of the stay is around 10 USD to 30 USD; breakfast is included.

What are the cultures and traditions of the Samagaun Village?

The culture and traditions of the Samagaun village are highly influenced by the Tibetan culture and traditions, as it lies near the Tibet border and 90% of the people staying here are Buddhists. The local people here are Nubri people, due to which in the villages you will see many walls dotted with prayer flags and wheels and gompas, often known as monasteries. On festive occasions, women adorn themselves with heavy silver jewelry, turquoise stones, and coral necklaces, symbolizing social status and protection from evil spirits.